FDA Consumer Advice on Products Containing Ground Cumin with Undeclared Peanuts Key Advice The FDA is advising people who are highly allergic to peanuts to consider avoiding products that contain ground cumin or cumin powder, because some shipments of these products have tested positive for undeclared peanut protein. People who are highly allergic or sensitive to peanuts may be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction. Ground cumin may be sold as a spice, in a spice mix or kit, or as a minor ingredient when used in finished food products like soups and chilies. Most finished products are expected to have low amounts of ground cumin, and therefore low amounts of peanut protein. Products made before 2014 are unlikely to contain the affected ground cumin. View a list of Recalled Products. Who Should Know Consumers with severe peanut allergies and those preparing food for people with peanut allergies. What to Do Consumers with severe peanut allergies and their caregivers should: Review the list of recalled products and avoid these foods. They include ground cumin, seasoning mixes, and a variety of cooking “kits” which include “Tex-Mex” and Indian dishes. When choosing a food, review the ingredients panel. Products, such as soups or chilies that contain only small amounts of the affected ground cumin may not contain enough peanut protein to trigger a reaction in most peanut-allergic people. However, people who are highly sensitive to peanuts may consider avoiding products that list “cumin.” Realize that if the ingredients panel lists “spices,” it may or may not contain ground cumin. People who are highly sensitive to peanuts may want to call the manufacturer to find out if the product contains cumin powder. Realize that if symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as shortness of breath, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or hives, occur, stop eating the product and seek immediate medical care or advice. Realize that if an allergic reaction occurs, you can contact your local FDA consumer complaint coordinator. To find yours, visit:http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm. Why This Advice is Important The FDA is continuing to identify companies that received shipments of the ground cumin that contained undeclared peanuts and work with them to remove these products from the market....

Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) alerts us of the following: Certain lots of Kirby brand black beans with creole seasoning, 29 oz. size and Goya brand black bean soup, 29 oz. size made by Goya Santo Domingo, S.A. are being recalled. The voluntary recall was announced after the Company was notified by one of its ingredient suppliers that one lot of ground cumin had potentially been produced with undeclared peanut protein. Peanut is an allergen that is not declared on the product’s ingredient statement. This recall notice only affects Kirby black beans with creole seasoning 29 oz. size and Goya black bean soup 29 oz. size. No other sizes or varieties of black bean soup or black beans are affected. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this voluntary recall. Consumers who have purchased the products listed above are urged to discard the product and contact GFI’s Consumer Affairs Department Monday through Friday between the hours of 8AM to 5PM, EST at 1-800-275-4692. For additional information, click here. Share...

PEANUT AND TREE NUT ALLERGY ALERT Nov. 29, 2010 Quaker Canada is recalling “Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Value Pack” cartons, sold in Canada, due to undeclared peanuts and tree nuts. FAAN is sending notification of this recall because, per the manufacturer, some consumers of this product may be U.S. residents. The affected product is packaged in 14-count cartons with UPC Bar Code 55577 10742. The carton should contain Chewy Chocolate Chip and Chewy S’mores bars, but could incorrectly contain Dipps Chocolate Chip and Dipps Caramel Nut bars. Consumers should return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions should contact Quaker Canada at (800) 267-6287. Share...

Oct. 23, 2010 Nestlé USA is recalling “Nestlé® Raisinets® Fun Size Bags” due to undeclared peanuts. The 10-oz bags were sold in Target, Shop Rite, and Don Quixote retail stores in the U.S. The product is marked with production code 02015748 and UPC 2800010255. Consumers should contact the company at (800) 478-5670 for a refund. Share...

This is great news. We love rice snacks and the Quaker brand was always the best. When they started producing them on a line that also processed peanuts we were shocked and promptly dropped them from our grocery list. We were pleased to receive this notice today telling us they are reducing the allergens by changing the production of some of their treats. NOTE: this is from the notice below. The changes will reduce the number of potential allergens in most flavours of rice chips products only. Allergen labeling on other Crispy Minis products, including Crispy Minis Bite Size rice chips, Crispy Minis Delights cookies and Crispy Minis rice cakes, remains the same. NOTICE FROM: PepsiCo Canada March 2010 IMPORTANT NOTICE: QUAKER BRAND TO REDUCE ALLERGENS IN SEVERAL CRISPY MINIS® RICE CHIPS As part of its ongoing mission to deliver healthy and convenient options that fit into a healthy lifestyle, PepsiCo Canada’s Quaker brand is making changes to its manufacturing and allergen control procedures for its Crispy Minis rice chips. The changes will reduce the number of potential allergens in most flavours of rice chips products only. Allergen labeling on other Crispy Minis products, including Crispy Minis Bite Size rice chips, Crispy Minis Delights cookies and Crispy Minis rice cakes, remains the same. The reduced allergen Crispy Minis rice chips are now on store shelves in major Canadian retail outlets. Accordingly, ingredients listings will be changing, and precautionary labeling will be adjusted only on affected products, as follows: CRISPY MINIS RICE CHIPS FLAVOUR CURRENT FORMULA NEW FORMULA Ketchup Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients Sea Salt & Lime Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients Salt & Vinegar Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients Caramel Kettle Corn Contains Sulphites. May Contains Wheat, Milk, Soy, Egg and Peanut. Contains Sulphites. May Contain Soy. Crunchy Dill Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut. Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. Butter Popcorn Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut. Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. Sweet Chili N/A new flavour Contains Soy and...